Advantage with New Zealand as lack of match practice may hurt India in the WTC final: Dilip Vengsarkar

Indian team is currently fulfilling mandatory quarantine in Southampton, having reached there on June 3 in a charter plane. The team’s hard quarantine is set to come to an end on Monday, after which the players will be allowed to train, practice and meet the other members of the squad, although strictly inside the bio-bubble prepared for the tour.

India is set to face New Zealand at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton, from June 18 onwards for the final of the World Test Championship, which will be followed by a series of five Tests against hosts England. Unlike their WTC rivals New Zealand, the Indian team has no chance to practice in a real match atmosphere as they will be walking out for the WTC summit clash straightaway.

On the other hand, New Zealand is playing a two-Test series against England, the first Test of which is ongoing at Lord’s Cricket Stadium. Owing to the same, a host of cricketers have given India’s WTC rivals an edge over them as they would be better prepared and would be in the know of English conditions.

Speaking on similar lines, former chief selector and India player, Dilip Vengsarkar reckoned that the lack of match practice might trouble India.

India is the better team: Dilip Vengsarkar

“Well, he (Kohli) has been around for a long time. He (Kohli) is one of the best batsmen in world cricket at the moment. Players like Virat or Rohit Sharma, they are world-class players, they take a lot of pride in their performance and pride in winning matches for India.

“It is a good thing and both are in very good form. But having said that, I think lack of match practice may hurt them in the first Test match,” Vengsarkar, the former chairman of selectors, said in a media interaction on Sunday, as reported by NDTV Sports.

“India is a better team and in great form. The advantage with New Zealand, it is a low profile team, the thing is that they are getting to play two Test matches before the Test match (World Test Championship final),” Vengsarkar said.

“So it is important… it is a slight advantage to New Zealand… because they have already played two Test matches before they start (of the WTC final), they are acclimatised to the conditions.”

“What I feel is that India should have played games, you know matches, at least two-three games before the Test match (WTC), to get acclimatised to the conditions.”

“It is advisable to play matches and spend time in the middle, both for batsmen as well as for bowlers. A match practice is ultimate, you may have net practice, you know a match simulation, but playing a match in the middle and spending time in the middle always helps, when you play the big game,” said the former batsman.